Improvement in bee-hives



H. A. KING.

Improvement in Bee-Hives.

No. 131,168. Patented Sep.10,'1872 u b'rzesaes, [71142222 021 I I 1 2/ f (aim I ml [If r UNITED STATES PATENT Q FIGE.

nouns A. KING, on NEW YORK, r.

IMPRQVEMENT IN BEE-HIVES.

, Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,168, dated September 10, 1872.

Specification describing a certain Improvement in Bee-Hives, invented by HOMER A.

.KING, of the city, county, and State of New York.

This invention is an improvement upon a bee-hive for which Letters Patent bearing date March 26, 1872, and numbered 124,962, were granted to me. In said hive the outer caseis made in two parts, either of which may be placed on top the other, and the honey-boxes and comb-frames are so constructed and arranged that the former may be removed and the latter substituted, when desired. The present improvement consists in the construction of the outer case so that the inner case, containing comb-frames, when placed in the center of the hive with honey-boxes at each end, will rest on the bottom board, and the outer case can be lifted off without disturbing the boxes; but when the inner case is moved to one end, the honeyboxes removed, and combframes substituted, the inner case and all the frames will be lifted with the hive or outer case.

In the drawing, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section through the center of the hive. Fig. 2 is a top view, with the covering-board removed to show the interior. Fig. 3 is a detached view of the upper part of a comb-frame.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures;

A and B represent the sections composing the outer case. These sections are provided with detachable top and bottom boards a b, and are themselves held together by means of hooks, or in some other suitable manner, so as to be readily taken apart and substituted one for the other, when occasion requires, or used separately. The hive contains movable cases 0 O, in which comb-frames c c are suspended, and honey-boxesl) D restingon boards cl d. To the inner face of each section A B of the outer case, at the lower edge and on each side, are secured strips e 6, having recesses f f, so arranged that when a single case, 0, of comb-frames is used (as in the uppersection in the drawing) it will occupy the central portion of the section andwill rest directly on. the tops of the comb-frames of the lower section or on the bottom of the hive. When thus arranged the section or sections of the outer casing A B may be readily lifted off without lifting or disturbing the comb-frames and honey-boxes, the projecting sides of the case 0 fitting the recessesf f in the strips secured to the casing A B. But when the honeyboxes are removed, the case 0 moved to one end, and the remaining space filled with loose frames, (as in the lower section Fig. 1,) the case 0 will rest on the strips 0 e; and as this case 0 supports the loose comb-frames at one end, and their opposite ends being supported by the section of outer casing, the said section A or B when lifted will carry with it the comb-frames it contains. The advantage of my invention is that the honey-boxes show plainly, without the expense of observationdoors.

I prefer to recess the ends of the top bars of the comb-frames on the under side, forming shoulders 45 t, (see Fig. 3,) which prevent the comb-frames from being moved endwise after they are adjusted, and keeps both sides of the frame at equal distances fromthe walls of the case containing the frames.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, with the outer casing, of the strips to the inner face, substantially as described, whereby the inner cases may be seated upon said stripsor rendered independent of them, so that the cases may be separated without disturbing the frames, for the purpose set forth.

To the above specification of my invention I have signed my name this 15th day of July,

HOMER A. KING. Witnesses: I

E. R. OLCOTT,

M. E. WILLIAMS. 

